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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: plane · mug · mine · key · cue · date · net · bore

  1. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. Have you settled on a ________________?
  12. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. mine — an explosive
  2. bore — to tire
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. net — in sport
  5. cue — a signal
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. bore — to drill
  8. mine — for digging
  9. cue — for pool
  10. mug — to rob
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. mine — belonging to me
  13. mug — a face
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. cue — a hint
  16. plane — a tool
  17. net — for catching
  18. date — the fruit
  19. net — after costs
  20. key — in music
  21. mug — a cup
  22. key — for a lock
  23. key — the most important part
  24. plane — an aircraft

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com